Yarn severing means for knitting machines



Dec. 9, 1958 c. FQMILLER 2,853,310

YARN SEVERING MEANS FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed April 26, 1957 5Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. U/fi'om' E Miller ATTORNEY.

2,863,310 YARN SEVERING MEANS FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed April 26, 1957C. F. MILLER Dec. 9, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 I NVEN TOR. C/ifierd f'Mil/er ATTORNEY.

Dec. 9, 1958 C(F. MILLER 2,863,310

YARN SEVERING MEANS FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed April 26, 1957 5Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG... L.

30 40 (0 40 52mg I r l gu'figll;, 42 a 42 I 45 45 I I 36 L 36 4/ l 36 Vfl a 9 E I 7? f a/ a5 26 IN VEN TOR.

ATTORNEY. E

Clifford E Mf/ler YARN SEVERING MEANS FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed April26, 1957 C. F. MILLER Dec. 9, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 IN V EN TOR. V.C/ffiom E Mi/ler A TTORNE Y.

9, c. F. MILLER 2,363,310

YARN SEVERING MEANS FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed April 26. 1957 5Sheets-Sheet 5 Fl l E] /2/ i5 ATTORNEY.

United States Patent YARN SEVERING MEANS FOR KNITTING MACHINES CliffordF. Miller, Hamburg, Pa., assignor to Textile Machine Works, Wyomissing,Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application April 26, 1957, SerialNo. 655,222 Claims. (Cl. 66145) This invention relates to full-fashionedknitting machines and more particularly to means for severing yarnsextending between holding means fixed to the machine and fabric blanks.

In multi-section knitting machines of the type for knittingfull-fashioned fabric blanks such as for stockings, yarns are fed bycarriers to the loop forming elements of the machine to be formedthereby into the loops of the fabric blanks. The carriers are normallypositioned in inactive position beyond either end of the loop formingelements with the ends of the yarns, which extend from the carriers,attached to holding means, the carriers being moved to active positionsto feed their yarns into the fabric in any desired sequence. Inconventional operations following the knitting of a newly introducedyarn into a few courses of the fabric, the yarn extending between thefabric edge and the holding means must be manually severed close to thefabric edge. Also, when these yarns are removed from knitting action theyarn extending between the fabric and carrier is severed and the end ofthe yarn from the carrier again attached to the holding means. Theseoperations of severing and attaching the yarn to the holding means areusually performed manually and when it is considered that there isprovision on the machine for introducing into the fabrics and removingtherefrom up to nine dififerent yarns in each section of the machine itwill be obvious that a considerable amount of time and effort isexpended in these non-productive operations.

Heretofore, attempts were made to reduce the number of manual operationsby providing means to automatically sever the yarns following theirintroduction into a fabric but in order to avoid interference with theknitting elements and fabricit was necessary to position such severingmeans beyond the ends of the rows of knitting elements and hence beyondthe widest portions of the fabric. While this arrangement is effectivewith respect to yarns introduced into the widest portion of the fabric,such as welt yarns, the point of the fabric at which the reinforcingyarns are introduced is comparatively narrow and the severing of theyarn beyond the ends of the knitting elements would leave undesirablylong yarn ends attached to the fabric which would have to be removed bya further operation before the joining of the edges of the fabric blankin a usual manner. Consequently, the reinforcing and any other yarnsintroduced at the narrow portions of the fabric would still have to bemanually severed with the result that only a few of the many manualoperations were eliminated.

-It it an object of the invention to provide a knitting machine withmeans for severing yarns at points closely adjacent to the selvages ofthe wide and narrow portions of the fabric at which the yarns areintroduced into the fabric.

Another object of the invention is to provide a knitting machine withmeans for severing yarns, which means is movable from inactive to activepositions to intercept and sever the yarns closely adjacent to theselvages of the wide and narrow portions of fabric at which the yarnsare introduced into the fabric.

A further object of the invention is to provide a knitting machine withmeans for severing yarns. closely adjacent to the selvages of wide andnarrow portions of fabrics which means are movable from an inactive toactive positions in a manner to prevent engagement of the severing meansfor the yarns at the narrow portions of the fabric with the wideportions of the fabric when the severing means for yarns of the latterportion is moved into active position.

With these and other objects in view which will become apparent from thefollowing detailed description of the illustrative embodiment of theinvention shown in the accompanying drawings, the invention resides inthe novel elements, features of construction and cooperation of parts,as hereinafter pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a front elevational view of a portion of a multi-sectionfull-fashioned knitting machine having yarn severing mechanism accordingto the invention applied thereto;

Fig. 2 is a view of the pattern mechanism of Fig. 1 and diagrammaticallyshowing the electrical circuit and control means for the severingmechanism of the invention;

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view on an enlarged scale taken on the line3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a plan view on an enlarged scale of a knitting section of themachine shown in Fig. 1 and diagrammatically showing a portion of afabric formed by said section;

Fig. 5 is a view on an enlarged scale of the mechanism shown at theupper part of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a view partly in section and partly in elevation takensubstantially along the line 6-6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is an elevational view on an enlarged scale taken in thedirection of the arrows 7-7 on Fig. 1, parts being shown in crosssection;

Fig. 8 is a plan view taken in the direction of the arrows 8-8 on Fig.5, parts being omitted and other parts being broken away and shown incross section;

Fig. 9 is a cross sectional view taken along the line 99 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 10 is an elevational view on an enlarged scale of a portion of themechanism shown at the right of Fig. 1;

Fig. 11 is a view taken from the right of Fig. 10, parts being brokenaway and shown in cross section;

Fig. 12 is a view of a portion of the mechanism shown in Fig. 10 butwith the parts in different positions than in Fig. 10; and

Fig. 13 is a cross sectional view taken substantially along the line13-13 of Fig. 10.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 3 of the drawings, there is shown a portion ofa knitting machine of a well known type such for example as the ReadingFull-Fashioned Knitting Machine illustrated in a Parts Catalog publishedin 1952 by the Textile Machine Works, for knitting stocking blanks,including transverse center frames 20, a front beam 21, a back beam 22,a center bed 25 and a front bed or table 26, the beams, beds and centerframes together with end frames (not shown) forming the usual frameworkof the machine. Supported in the framework in each section of themachine is a bar 27 having a row of needles 30 for cooperating withsinkers 31 and dividers 32, carried for sliding movement in asinker-head 35. The needles, sinkers and dividers, comprising the loopforming elements, are operated in a usual manner to form yarns 36 (Fig.4) into the loops of the fabric by cams (not shown) carried on acamshaft 37 supported for rotation in the end and center frames. Theyarns 36 3 are fed to the needles 30, sinkers 31 and dividers 32 by yarncarriers 40 which are mounted for reciprocating movement along the bar27 in the usual manner.

In inactive or non-feeding position, theyarn carriers 40 are beyond therow of needles at both ends of the bar 27 (Fig. 4) and the ends of theyarns 36 extending from the carriers are attached to holding means 41secured to the table 26. Following the movement ofa yarn carrier 40 fromits inactive position to feed a yarn 36 to the needles 30 and to knitsuch yarn into the fabric blank, the yarn is severed between a selvageof the blank and the holding means 41 to which the yarn is attached.This severing must occur close to the selvages of the blank both at thewide or welt width and at the narrow or ankle width of the blank, thelatter width being illustrated in Fig. 4.

For severing the yarns 36 introduced at the widest portion of the blankthere is provided outer units 42 adjacent to and outwardly of the endneedles at each end of the needle bar 27. Each of the units- 42 isprovided with a wire element 4-5 which is adapted to be engaged by theyarns as the yarn carriers move from inactive positions to activepositions to feed the yarns to the needles 30. The elements 45 areconnected to an electrical circuit, as hereinafter set forth, which isadapted to energize and heat the Wire elements to a temperaturesufiicient to burn or melt the yarns. Likewise, for severing the yarnsintroduced at the ankle width of the fabric, wire elements 46 areprovided similar to the elements 45. The elements 46 are carried ininner units 47 spaced inwardly of the units 42 and closely adjacent toopposite selvages at the narrow Width portion of the blank. The wireelements 45 and 46 are in the same electrical circuit and aresimultaneously energized and heated.

When the yarns 36 are introduced to the needles 30 forming the widestportion of the fabric, the yarns engage the wire element 45 of the unit42 at the side of the blank at which the yarn is introduced. When a yarnis introduced at the narrow portion of the blank, as the fabric isknitted and drawn in the take-up direction, the yarn engages the wireelement 46 in one or the other of the units 47. In order to preventengagement of such yarns introduced at the narrow width of the blankwith the outer units 42, the latter are adapted to be moved along avertical line betweeen inactive positions indicated by a dot-and-dashline A in Fig. 5, below the level of such yarns and active positions,indicated in full lines in Fig. 5, to intercept the yarns to be severedthereby, the units 42 being held in the lower positions during theintroduction and the initial knitting of the yarns at the narrow widthof the fabric. The inner units 47 are also movable vertically with theunits 42 from inactive positions indicated by a dot-and-dash line B inFig. 5, but as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 5, the inner units arenormally at a lower level than the outer units. Hence, at the time theouter units are vertically raised sufficiently to be engaged by a yarnintroduced at the wide portion of the fabric the inner units will onlybe raised to intermediate positions indicated by dot-and-dash line C inFig. 5. In the intermediate position, the inner units 47 are below thelevel of the fabric and out of contact therewith as it is drawn in thetake-up direction. When the inner units 47 are to become active they areraised to the full line positions of Figs. 1 and 5, in a mannerhereinafter set forth.

For moving the outer units 42 along vertical paths each unit is securedto a plate-like bracket 50 which ispivotally connected by a pin- 51 tothe free end of a lever 52 pivotally mounted on a shaft 55 supported forrotation in the machine frame. The lever 52 is'positioned axially of theshaft 55 between a pair of collars 56 fixed on the shaft, one of thecollars having a finger 57 which is adapted to engage a projection 60 onthe lever 52 (Figs. 6 and 7) as and for purposes hereinafter set forth.

An upper end 61 of the bracket 50 is guided for vertical movement in aslot 62 in a bracket 65 fixed by screws 66 to a bridge member 67 one ofwhich is secured to the table 26 at opposite ends of the row of needles30, the bridge members acting to support a welt bar (not shown) formovement toward and away from the needles in a usual manner. A pin 70carried in the bracket 65 engages in a slot 71 in the upper end 61 ofthe bracket 50 (Figs. 5 and 9) the pin acting to maintain the unit invertical position against the rear end of the bridge member 67 and tolimit the upward movement of the unit, as hereinafter set forth. Aspring 72 connected between a pin 75 in the lever 52 and a pin 76 in thebridge member 67 biases the lever 52 counterclockwise as viewed in Fig.7.

Each inner unit 47 is carried on a stud 77 having a reduced portion 80mounted for pivotal movement in a lever 81 secured to the shaft 55(Figs. 6 and 8). As indicated in Fig. 5, the lever 81 is shorter thanthe lever 52 so that a rotative movement of the shaft 55 to raise theouter units 42 from inactive to active positions will only raise theinner units 47 from an inactive to an intermediate position as above setforth. The shaft 55 is given a further rotative movement to raise theinner units 47 to active positions, the shaft being operated to raiseboth outer and inner units by means and in a manner hereinafter setforth.

As shown in Fig. 8, the stud 77 engages one side face of the lever 81and is maintained in such engagement by a collar 82 fixed on the portion80 at the opposite face of the lever. The stud 77 is biased clockwise bya spring 85 connected between the lever 81 and the collar 82 (Figs, 5and 8) to maintain the unit 47 against the rear end surface of the table26. An. arm 86 fixed to the shaft 55 is connected by a link 87 to onearm 90 of a lever 91 pivotally mounted on a. shaft or stud 92 carried ina bracket 95' secured to the, front beam 21. The lever 91, which carriesa roller type follower 100, is. biased clockwise by a spring 96,connected between the end of arm 90 and an arm 97 secured to the backbeam 22, to engage the follower with cams 101 and 102 carried on thecamshaft 37, for purposes hereinafter set forth.

The follower is mounted on the lever 91 by means of a stud 105 and thefollower is shiftable axially of the stud from an inactive position toalign it with either of the cams 101 and 102 by a shifter member 106pivotally mounted on a stud 107 carried in the bracket 95. A forkedlower end 110 of shifter member 106 straddles a rod 111 between a forkedend portion 112 of a bracket 115 and an end portion 116 of a bracket 117(Figs. 3, l0 and 11), the end portions of the brackets also straddlingthe rod and being slidable axially thereof. The brackets 115 and 117 arefixed on a rod 120 which together with the rod 111 are mounted forsliding movement along the length of the machine in brackets 121 one ofwhich is shown secured to the front beam 21 in Fig. 1. The rods 111 and120 are two of the usual rods for controlling various mechanisms of themachine which are operated by pattern levers one of which is shown at122 for the rod 120. The pattern levers form a part of a conventionalmain pattern device 125 having a chain 126 with buttons for operatingthe pattern levers.

Prior to movement of a carrier 40 to feed its yarn to a wide portion ofthe fabric, such as in the welt or at the start of the leg, the lever 91is biased by the spring 96 to the limit of its movement in a clockwisedirection.

the follower 100 is at a level only slightly above the low.

portions of cams 101 and 102 and the shaft 55 has been turned to thecounterclockwise limit of its movement, as viewed in Fig. 5, to lowerthe units 42 and 47 to their lowest position, as indicated by thedot-and-dash lines A and. B, respectively, the units 42 being moveddownwardly against the action of the spring 72 by engagement of the finger57 with the projection 60 on the lever 52. Also at this time, as thereis no button beneath the lever 122, the rod 120 is in the right handposition of Fig. 1 to which it is biased by a spring 131 connectedbetween the rod and a fixed part of the machine, and the shifter member106 positions the follower 100 to the right of the cam 101.

In preparation for the movement of a carrier 40 to introduce the yarn tothe needle 30 to form the welt portion of the fabric, the pattern chainis operated to move a low button 132 beneath the lever 122 to shift therod 120 toward the left whereby the follower 100 is also shifted to theleft by the shifter member 106 to align it with the cam 101. As thefollower 100 engages the earn 101 and rides to the high portion thereof,the lever 91 is actuated to turn the shaft 55 and finger 57counterclockwise (Fig. 7) and the spring 72 turns the lever in the samedirection to raise the units 42 to their high active positions asdetermined by engagement of the closed end of the slot 71 in the bracket50 with the pin 70 and the inner units 47 are simultaneously raised totheir intermediate positions as hereinbefore set forth (Fig. 5). Theunits 42 are maintained in the high position so that as the carrier ismoved to feed its yarn to the needles the yarn engages the unit at theside of the section from which the yarn carrier was moved, and the unitis then energized and heated to sever the yarn as hereinafter set forth.i

The units 42 are maintained in the high position by a latch lever 135which is pivotally mounted on a shoulder stud 136 carried in the bracket95 (Figs. and 11). The latch lever 135 is biased counterclockwise by aspring 137 connected between the latch lever and a pin 140 in thebracket 95 as shown in Figs. 3 and 10, and has lower and upper sideprojections 141 and 142, respectively, which are adapted to be broughtbeneath the end of the arm 130 of the lever 91 upon movement of thelever 91 by the cam 101 or 102. Normally when the follower 100 is at thelevel of the low portions of the cams 101 and 102 the end of the arm 130engages the side of the latch lever 135 to hold the lever in theposition of Fig. 12, which, as viewed in this figure, is turned slightlyin the clockwise direction from the latching position. When a low button132 causes the follower 100 to be shifted and aligned with the cam 101,as above set forth, the follower rides from the low to the high portionof the cam to raise the end of the arm 130 above the tower projection141, and the spring 137 turns the latch lever 135 counterclockwise toposition the lower projection beneath the end of the arm. As thefollower 100 rides from the high portion toward the low portion of thecam 101 the end of the arm 130 is lowered to rest on the projection 141.When the follower 100 reaches its low level, the button 132 is removedfrom beneath the lever 122, and the rod 120 is shifted toward the rightby the spring 131 to move the follower to the right out of alignmentwith the cam 101. I

Following the severing of the welt yarn, the units 42 and 47 arepreferably returned to their low inactive positions. For this purpose,another low button 132 is moved beneath the lever 122 to shift the rod120 toward the left to again align the follower 100 with the cam 101. Asthe follower 100 rides to the high portion of the cam 101 the end of thearm 130 is raised slightly to disengage the projection 141 and the latchlever is turned clockwise to remove the projection 141 from beneath theend of the arm so that as the follower rides from the high toward thelow portion of the cam the end of the arm is again lowered to engage theside of the latch lever as shown in Fig. 12. For so turning the latchlever 135 in the clockwise direction, the latch lever is provided with amember 145 which is mounted for sliding movement on pins 146 secured tothe latch lever. The pins 146 pass through an elongated slot 147 in themember follower with the cam 102.

and have head portions 150 which'are adapted to hold the member inengagement with one face of the latch lever (Figs. 10 and 13). Themember 145 is biased upwardly by a spring 151 connected between themember and a pin 152 in the latch lever 135 to engage the lower end ofthe slot 147 against the lower pin 146. A projection 155 on the member145 is adapted to be engaged by a finger 156 projecting from the upperend of a lever 157 pivotally mounted with the latch lever 135 on thestud 136. A lower end portion 160 of the lever 157 is biased towardengagement with the bracket 117 by a spring 161 connected between thelever and a collar 162 secured to the rod (Fig. 10). In the position ofthe end of arm of the lever 91, shown in Fig. 12, a pin 165 carried inthe arm engages and depresses the memher 145 to move the projection 155out of the path of the finger 156 of the lever 157 for purposeshereinafter set forth.

When the rod 120 is shifted to the left to align the follower 100 withthe cam 101 to effect the raising of the units 42 to the high activeposition, as hereinbefore set forth, the lever 157 is turned clockwise(Figs. 10 and 12) by the spring 161. At this time with the member 145being depressed by the pin 165, the finger 156 will pass above theprojection 155. As the end of arm 130 is raised above the lowerprojection 141 by the action of the cam 101, the spring 137 turns thelatch lever to position the lower projection beneath the arm, the memberat this time being held in depressed position by the finger 156. Whenthe button is removed from beneath the lever 122 and the rod 120 movedto the right by the spring 131, the bracket 117 turns the lever 157counterclockwise to disengage the finger 156 from the projection therebypermitting the spring 151 to raise the member 145 to align theprojection with the finger (Fig. 10). During operation of the secondbutton 132 to effect the return of the units 42 and 47 to lower inactivepositions, movement of the rod 120 to the left turns the lever 157 andfinger 156 clockwise to engage the projection 155. When the arm 130 isdisengaged from the lower projection 141 by the cam 101, as above setforth, the spring 161 continues to move the lever 157 clockwise to turnthe latch lever 135 clockwise and remove the lower projection frombeneath the arm. Continuing operation of the cam 101 lowers the arm 130of the lever 91 to the position of Fig. 12, during which movement thepin engages and depresses the member 145 to disengage the projection 155from the finger 156 thereby permitting the spring 137 to turn the latchmember 135 counterclockwise to engage the side of the arm 130. When thebutton 132 is again removed from beneath the lever 122 the lever 157 isturned to its position of Fig. 12, when the rod 120 is moved to theright as above set forth.

In order to raise the units 47 to active positions, shown in Fig. 5, asdistinguished from the intermediate positions indicated by the line C inFig. 5, as previously referred to, to engage and sever a reinforcingyarn, following introduction of this yarn to the needles 30, a highbutton 166 on the chain 126 is moved beneath the lever 122 to move therod 120 to the left to align the During operation of the cam 102 torotate the shaft 55 through the greater distance necessary to raise theunits 47 to active positions, the units 42 are also raised to activepositions and due to the greater movement of the shaft, the finger 57disengages the projection 60 (Fig. 7). However, because the units 42 and47 are raised at this time after the reinforcing yarn is introduced tothe needles and knitted into the fabric, the length of yarn extendingbetween the edge of the fabric and the holding means 41 is to the rearof the units 42, as indicated in Fig. 4, and will be unaffected thereby.This reinforcing yarn will then be carried forward with the fabric as itis knitted to engage one of the units 47 and be severed thereby.

Preferably, a few courses after a yarn is engaged with are heated sothat the one engaged will sever the yarn. In order to energize and heatthe wire elements, the units 42 and 47 are connected in an electricalcircuit, preferably of 110 volts, comprising main conductors 170 whichare connected by leads 171 to a timer device 172 as diagrammaticallyshown in Fig. 2. The timer device 172 may be of any commercial type,such as the Agastat Timer, manufactured by the Elastic Stop Nut Corp.,of Elizabeth, New Jersey, which is adapted to close the circuit and tohold it closed for predetermined time intervals. The timer device 172 isconnected by leads 175 to an adjustable transformer 176 by means ofwhich the voltage may be varied to increase or decrease the temperatureof the wire elements 45 and 46 of the units 42 and 47, respectively. Thetransformer 176 is connected by leads 177 to the units 42 and 47 and theunits are connected to each other in series by leads 180. The timerdevice 172 is provided with a contact button 181 which is adapted to beengaged and operated by one of the pattern levers 122 of the patterndevice 125 to close the circuit to the units 42 and 47 when a button 182on the chain 126 is moved beneath the lever.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the arrangement andoperation of the outer and inner units 42 and 47 is such that at thetimes yarns are fed to the needles to form the widest portions of thefabric only the units 42 will be raised to the full line positions ofFig. to intercept the yarn as it is moved to feeding position, afterwhich the unit is heated to sever the yarn. At this time, the innerunits 47 although being operated with the outer units 42, are onlyraised to intermediate positions indicated by the line C in Fig. 5, inwhich positions the tops of the inner units are well below the level ofthe fabric as it is drawn away from the needles 3th by the take-up meansof the machine. The inner units 47 on the other hand are raised to theactive full-line positions of Fig. 5 after the yarns are fed to theneedles to be formed into loops in the narrow portions of the fabric andalthough the outer units 42 are also raised at this time they will be inback of the yarns extending between the holding means and the narrowportions of the fabric. As the fabric is formed and drawn in the take-updirection, the yarns engage the units 47 and are severed thereby.Following each operation to sever yarn, the units are lowered toinactive position and remain in such inactive position until the patterndevice again institutes an operation of the units to active position.

Of course, the improvements specifically shown and described by whichthe above results are obtained, can be changed and modified in variousways without departing from the invention herein disclosed andhereinafter claimed.

I claim:

1. In a straight knitting machine having knitting elements and carriersfor feeding yarns to said knitting elements to be formed into fabricthereby, means for holding the ends of yarns extending from saidcarriers, and means for severing said yarns comprising outer severingunits for intercepting and severing yarns between the selvages at a Wideportion of the fabric and said holding means, inner severing units forintercepting and severing yarns between the selvages of a narrow portionof the fabric and said holding means, and means for moving both outerand inner sets of units to positions in which one of the sets of unitsintercepts yarns while the other set of units is below the point ofinterception with yarns, and additional means for moving said other setof units to position to intercept yarns.

2. In a straight knitting machine having knitting elements and carriersfor feeding yarns to said knitting elements to be formed into fabricthereby, means for holding the ends of yarns extending from saidcarriers, and means for severing said yarns comprising outer and innersets of severing units, means for moving said sets of units 8 .toposition said outer set of units to intercept andsever yarns betweensaid holding means and a wide portion of the fabric, and means forfurther moving said inner set :of units to intercept and sever yarnsbetween said holding means and a narrow portion -of'said fabric.

3. In a straight knitting machine having knitting elements and carriersfor feeding yarns to said knitting ele. ments to be formed thereby intofabric, means for bolding the ends of ya'r-ns extending from saidcarriers, and means for severing said yarns comprisingouter and innersevering units, means for moving said units to position said outer unitsto intercept and sever yarns between said holding means and a wideportion of the fabric, means for moving said units to position saidinner units to intercept and sever yarns between said holding means anda narrow portion of the fabric, and means for controlling the operationof said first and second mentioned moving means.

4. In a knitting machine having knitting element's, carriers for feedingyarns to said knitting elements to be formed into fabric thereby, meansfor holding the ends of yarns extending from said carriers, and meansfor severing the yarns including outer and inner severing units, meansfor vertically moving said units to positions in which only the outerunits engage and sever yarns between said holding means and a wideportion of the fabric, and additional means for vertical-1y moving saidunits to positions in which said inner units engage and sever yarnsbetween said holding means and a narrow portion of the fabric.

5. In a knitting machine having knitting elements, carriers for feedingyarns to said knitting elements to be formed thereby into fabric, meansfor holdingfthe ends of yarns extending fro-m said carriers, means forsever-- ing said yarns including outer and inner severing units, anoperating shaft, connections between said shaft and said outer and innerunits, cam means for operating said shaft to move said units topositions in which only said outer units engage and sever yarns betweensaid holding: means and a Wide portion of the fabric, and a second camfor operating said shaft to move said inner units to position to engageand sever yarns between said holding means and a narrow portion 'of saidfabric.

6. In a straight knitting machine having knitting elements, carriers forfeeding yarns to said knitting elements to be formed thereby intofabric, means for holding the ends of yarns extending from saidcarriers, means for severing said yarns including outer and innersevering units, means for moving said units to position said outer unitto engage and sever a yarn between said holding means and a wide portionof the fabric, a second means for moving said units to position saidinner unit to engage and sever a yarn between said holding means and anarrow portion of the fabric, and pattern means for controlling theoperation of said first and second moving means.

7. In a straight knitting machine having knitting elements, carriers forfeeding yarns to said knitting elements to be formed into fabricthereby, means for holding the ends of yarns extending from said fabric,means for severing said yarns including outer and inner severing unitsadapted to be heated to predetermined temperatures to sever said yarns,means to heat said units, means for moving said units to position saidouter units to engage yarns between said holding means and a wideportion of said fabric, a second means for moving said units to positionsaid inner units to engage yarns between said holding means and a narrowportion of the fabric, control means for operating said first and secondmoving means, and means for controlling the operation of said unitheating means.

8. In a knitting machine having knitting elements, carriers for feedingyarns to said knitting-elements to be formed thereby into fabric, meansfor holding the ends of yarns extending from said carriers, means forsevering said yarns including outer and inner severing units, means forvertically moving said units to positions in which only the outer unitsengage and sever yarns between said holding means and a wide portion ofthe fabric, additional means for vertically moving said units topositions in which said inner units engage and sever yarns between saidholding means and a narrow portion of the fabric, means for controllingthe operation of said first and second moving means, and latch means formaintaining said outer and inner units in the positions to which theyare moved by said first and second moving means to engage yarns forpredetermined time intervals.

9. In a straight knitting machine having knitting elements, carriers forfeeding yarns to said knitting elements to be formed into fabricthereby, means for holding the ends of yarns extending from saidcarriers, means for severing said yarns including outer and innersevering units, means for moving said units from inactive positions topositions in which only the outer units are active to engage and severyarns between said holding means and a wide portion of the fabric,additional means for moving said units from inactive positions topositions in which said inner units are active to engage and sever yarnsbetween said holding means and a narrow portion of the fabric, means forcontrolling the operation of said first and second moving means, latchmeans for maintaining said outer and inner units in active positions forpredetermined time intervals, means for operating said latch means tolatch said outer and inner units in active positions, and pattern meansfor operating said latch means to release said units for return to saidinactive positions.

10. In a straight knitting machine having knitting elements, carriersfor feeding yarns to said. knitting elements to be formed into fabricthereby, means for holding the ends of yarns extending from saidcarriers, means for severing said yarns including outer and innersevering units, means for moving said units from inactive positions topositions in which only the outer units are active to engage and severyarns between said holding means and a wide portion of the fabric,additional means for moving said units from inactive positions topositions in which said inner units are active to engage and sever yarnsbetween said holding means and a narrow portion of the fabric, means forcontrolling the operation of said first and second mentioned movingmeans, latch means for maintaining said outer and inner units in saidactive positions for predetermined time intervals, pattern means, acontrol member on said latch means, having a first position in whichsaid latch means is permitted to latch said units in active positions,and said control member having a second position in which it is engagedand operated by said pattern means to release said latch means from saidunits for return to inactive positions.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS,

2,100,345 Miller Nov. 30, 1937 2,432,110 Tambach Dec. 9, 1947 2,602,313Reading July 8, 1952 2,746,275 Colbert May 22, 1956

